The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-20
AN UPTOWN MYSTERY.
A Very Curious and Rather Remarka-
BILE Story.

with some story about q beautiful and ac-
complished girl who is picked up in the
street, is well dressed, and to all appearance
of good family, but will give no under
standable account of herself.
Such cases generally turn out to be vic
tins of opium, or temporary insanity, or
possibly freaks, who, as soon as they get
over the effect of their momentary crank
ism, are taken away by their friends or go
away by themselves, there being no law to
hold them, as they do not come under that
of the misdemeanor nor yet the vagrant
acts.
But singular case has occurred lately
which puzzles everybody cognizalit of it, in
a lordly Fifth avenue mansion, not far
above Forty-second street.
About three months ago an exceedingly
beautiful girl presented herself at this house
and asked to see its mistress. She was about
Is, very richly dressed, had diamonds on
her person worth several thousands of dol
lars and altogether evidenced high breeding
and wealth. She sent up her name as How
ard and was shown into the parlor. When
the mistress of the house, who is the wife of
a we'll known banker came down the young
lady in "A very straightforward way told the
lady whom we shall call Smith, that her
name was Mabel Howard, that her mother
had been "a sChoolmate of Mrs. Smiths,
mentioning the school, and an especial
chum, and had told her daughter before she
died, which was four years ago, that If ever
she came to New York she must seek out
Mrs. Smith and call upon her
All this on the part of Miss Howard so
far was perfectly probable and coherent,
but now when questioned she did not know
what her mothers maiden name had been,
and, stranger still, she could not tell the
name of the place she came from, though
she had only left it few months before,
nor could she tell where she had been since
then though she knew she had only arrived
in New York that day, and had ordered her
trunk to some well-known hotel, though
where or of what name she could not re-
member.
Mrs. Smith, seeing that the questioning
seemed TO disturb Miss Howard very much,
and being kind-hearted woman, ceased it,
thinking it was only lapse of memory,
perhaps, under the pressure of some trouble,
and as lunch was announced invited Miss
Howard to take off her bonnet and partake.
The invitation was accepted, and during
lunch the young lady charmed the elder
one by her conversational powers,
She had been to Europe and resided in Par
is with her father after her mothers death.
She could read and speak German, French
and Italian, but she could not tell her faith
er's name, business or where he was then,
. in fact, was not certain whether he was
alive or not.
During this conversation Mrs. Smith
could not help noticing that her guest would
occasionally wander in her recital, not as
though she was inventng her story as she
proceeded, but as if trying to recall from a
defective memory.
Somebody says that you can never tell a
gentleman until you see him at table. Mrs.
Smith found that, applying this rule to her
guest she was certainly a high bred
woman, even if she had not
been convinced of this before.
After lunch was over they returned to the
parlor, and Miss Howard at the request of
her hostess, sat down to the piano and very
soon showed that she was an accomplished
musician and had lovely contralto voice.
Then they talked further about Mrs.
Smiths school days, and that lady was
thoroughly convinced that, no matter from
whom she had received the information,
Miss Howard was thoroughly posted on Mrs.
Smiths early life, though she could not re-
call the name of the school when 1t was
mentioned, nor vet the name of any of
those who had been Mrs. Smiths early asso-
ciates there, and who might have been her
mother.
As the afternoon wore on the young lady
made movement to go, but her hostess in
SlSJtd upon flcI SUH1lllk ulill nci
came, which would be about O'Clock The
young lady cheerfully assented, and when
Mr. Smith came in was introduced with a
short explanation of her presence. Smith
was charmed at glace and almost forgot
his dinner When that was announced,
why, of course, Miss Howard could not go
away, and after dinner she should be sent
anywhere she desired in the carriage. But
after dinner the young lady seemed so thor
hat fla iY1of
away before anyone knew it.
She played, she sang she talked French
with Smith and Italian with his wife, and
when told that it was too late for her TO go
to a strange hotel, and that she must stay
there that night, after a moments thought
she assented, and when the time arrived was
accompanied to her chamber by Mrs. Smith,
who afterward reported to her husband that
Miss Howard's underwear was of superlative
fineness and her diamonds worth at least
$4,000, and that she had handed her a
pocketbook with her money to take care Of.
On examining this they were astonished to
find that it contained thirty five 81 900 bills,
but not a card or anything to lead to the
identity of the young lady. That night Dir.
and Mrs. Smith discussed what had better
be done in the case, but the only conclusion
arrived at was that they would not let her
depart next day, or after if they could pre-
vent it, until they found out where she came
from and who her friends were
The next day Mr.. and Mrs. Smith were
more charmed and interested in their guest
than ever Smith stayed at home all day
to see if in conversation he could elicit any
thing that would be clew as to her identity
or where she came from, but to no avail. II
direct question was put to her she seemed
panied and answered that she had forgotten.
When offered her money back she only
laughed, and said she did not want it. When
Smith proposed to deposit it in bank she
carelessly assented, and he has done so in
her name.
Then they proposed that she should make
her home with them rather than go to
hotel, and she accepted as though it was
matter of course. Mrs. Smith had no chill
dren and no family residing with her.
All this was three months ago, and Miss
Howard remains still with the Smiths.
They have tried every means within their
power TO find out who she is without success.
She has proved such an addition to their
happiness that they both hope they will not
find out, and they have long ceased to talk
to her on the subject, as they find it only
troubles her, and causes the wandering of
the mind, which comes at no other time.
They will not hear, nor will she. of putting
the case in the hands of the police, and es-
pecially do they dread reporters, who, hav-
ing got, somehow, an inkling of the story,
are anxious to get more, but arc repulsed
at every return. Miss Howard's baggage
has never been found, though every exer-
ton has been made, and there is no doubt
that she had it. so that an entire new ward